MANY Ebonyians in the state and outside the state has continued to react
to the statement made by the state governor, Engr David Umahi on 7th January,
2019 that went viral on the media, which he stated that Ebonyi state is not
part of Biafra.

Many who aired their view on the statement on different platforms of the
social media countered the governor's statement with numerous facts and figures
that Ebonyi state is fully part of Biafra.

Some while condemning the statement made by the governor says that, he
made the statement because he wants to please the Nigeria political cabals, to
gain more political favour from them.

Some were of the opinion that he said it out of brilliant ignorance, all
for personal and selfish interest.

On the other hand, the leadership of IPOB on a press release issued by
Emma Powerful the media and publicity secretary of IPOB shortly after he (Engr
David Umahi) flagged off 'Operation Python Dance III' at Nkwegu military
cantonment followed the statement, condemned the utterances and the
statement of Umahi and other Eastern governors on the press release.

Nevertheless, many Biafrans and lovers of freedom who called in to
Biafra Television and Radio Biafra sunrise daily program on 8th January, 2019
seriously lambasted the governor, describing his statement as one engineered by
frustration and cabalistic influence.

While reacting to the statement, some social analysts says that the
governor lacks the facts to prove himself right, because Ebonyi is Biafra and
they actively participated in the Biafra Nigeria war in 1967-1970 both the
movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) and
the agitation of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) in Ebonyi and other
states in Biafra land and beyond.

A social media expert and a Biafra freedom fighter based abroad, Mazi
Igwe Donald wrote on his Facebook timeline while reacting to the statement
thus: "Using the word of Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi who is
fighting for Nigeria to judge Ebonyi people who are fighting for Biafra is not
only an insult to Ebonyi people but also a direct insult to Ebonyi people who
have paid with their blood to see that Biafra is restored."

Another Biafran and a social media user Nwachineke Chukwudi, while
reacting to a post made on the same statement from the governor on a Facebook
group wrote: "Umahi is on his own. He is not speaking for the Ebonyians. I
am from Ebonyi state, and Ebonyi is 100,000% Biafra".

Mazi Ikechukwu Nwankwo the Ebonyi central senatorial district coordinator
of IPOB and Mazi Onu Eugene, on their own says that the governor may be under
the influence of alcoholic before he made the statement, adding that the
activities of IPOB going on in the state since 2015 till date are enough
reasons to prove that Ebonyi state is not just part of Biafra but have
continued to work hard in the struggle to restore Biafra.

Recall that Ebonyi state IPOB has pulled together many elders from all
parts of the state and clergies who had unanimously endorsed Biafra, declaring
total support for IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, pledging to boycott the 2019
Nigeria organized general election in the entire Biafra land and Ebonyi state
as well.

This is making is twice that the governor is making the statement that,
"Ebonyi state is not part of Biafra", the first time he said it was
on a telephone call to Mazi Igwe Ogbonnaya the Ebonyi state IPOB coordinator,
telling him to go and inform Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at his home, Afara Ukwu Ibeku in
Umuahia Abia state not to visit Ebonyi state due to the above stated reason,
after delivering the message, the supreme leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
countered it and visited Ebonyi state and clearly stated that "Ebonyi is
Biafra", he added in his speech while addressing the crowd that gathered
to see and listen to him in Abakaliki the capital city of Ebonyi state that
"when Biafra is restored, we'll bring back our brethren in Benue
state".

They equally called on the Nigeria government and the world to grant a
referendum in Biafra land to ascertain if Ebonyi is part of Biafra or not
through the result that will be gotten from the voting.